3 hrs ago
Punjab Farmers’ Chandigarh Protest Continues Over MSP, Water Demands
Farmers from Punjab are protesting near Chandigarh.
They have been there for three days.
The protest is planned to continue until September 7.
The farmers want the government to guarantee prices for 22 crops.
They also want help with farm loans and better crop insurance.
Water-sharing agreements are another major concern.
The farmers want the Punjab Assembly to discuss cancelling older agreements.
Union leaders say the government has not responded to their demands since the protest began on September 1.
They also warn that farmers could protest across the country against a proposed Free Trade Agreement.
Punjab farmers continued their sit-in at the Chandigarh border for a third day on Thursday.
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha says 32 farmer organisations are participating in the mobilisation.
The unions are seeking a legal MSP guarantee for 22 crops, farm debt relief and proper crop insurance.
Farmers want a special Punjab Assembly session to seek cancellation of old water-sharing agreements.
Union leaders said they may organise nationwide protests against the proposed Free Trade Agreement.
- Who
- Farmers from Punjab, represented by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha and 32 farmer organisations, including the Bharatiya Kisan Union.
- What
- A sit-in protest over demands including a legal MSP guarantee, farm debt relief, crop insurance and changes to water-sharing agreements.
- Where
- At the Chandigarh border, with participants mobilised from across Punjab.
- When
- The protest entered its third day on Thursday; it began on September 1 and is scheduled to continue until September 7.
- Why
- Union leaders say repeated representations over roughly four and a half years have not produced results and that the government has not responded to the current protest.
Key facts
- Protest duration
- The sit-in entered its third day and is scheduled to run through September 7.
- Participating groups
- The Samyukt Kisan Morcha says 32 farmer organisations jointly decided to intensify the agitation.
- MSP demand
- Farmers want a statutory guarantee for Minimum Support Price on 22 crops announced by the Centre.
- Other farm demands
- The unions are seeking farm debt relief and a proper crop insurance scheme.
- Water demand
- Farmers want a special Punjab Assembly session to seek cancellation of previous water-sharing agreements.
- FTA position
- Union leaders say they are prepared to hold nationwide protests against the proposed Free Trade Agreement.
- Government response
- The unions said they had received no response or statement since the week-long sit-in began.
Quotes
Harinder Singh Lakhowal
Senior leader of the Bharatiya Kisan Union
“We want them to oppose this in the Legislative Assembly by convening a special session. They should demand the cancellation of past water agreements; after all, 25 years have passed.”
thestatesman.com
“We, a coalition of 32 farmer organisations, have made this decision because we have been raising these demands for a long time.”
thestatesman.com
Sources
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